These New Smart Parachutes Rely on Mechanical Eyes, Not GPS

The U.S. army is currently testing smart parachutes that stay on target no matter what. Designed for military use, these parachutes do not require GPS assistance.

With GPS being subject to error -- especially on the modern battlefield -- packages can sometimes miss their mark, which results in soldiers venturing into hostile territory to retrieve them. To eliminate the aforementioned danger, the U.S. military is developing a joint precision airdrop system that guides equipment towards its target using only visual cues. Known as 'JAPDS,' these smart parachutes rely on an aerial guidance unit, which is a small box designed with motors that manipulate the parafoil controls, a ground-facing camera to collect visual data and a small computer to oversee the process.

With this revolutionary innovation, threats to military GPS are decreased.